Cigar-cutting machine.



T. E.- FEARON.

CIGAR CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 23, 1912.

1,067,327, Patented July 15, 1913.

Mam BY M wmb ATTORNEY COLUMIHA PLANOGRAPH c0. WASHINGTON. I) c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. FEARON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO ROBERT P.

SMITH AND GEORGE E. DRUM, 0F PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA, COPARTNERS TRADING AS SMITIL DRUM & COMPANY.

CIGAR-'CUTTIN G MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 23, 1912.

Patented July 15,1913. Serial No. 699,115.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. FnARoN, citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia. and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a cigar cutter with an adjustable gage to predetermine the length of the cigar to be cut, and also with an adjustable lower knife to meet the condition of the shape of the cigar to be cut so that when the upper knife brought downwardly the shearing action of the cutters will give a true and smooth cut to the cigar.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views: Figure 1 is a top plan View of the invention, Fig. 2 is an end view in elevation, and Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The reference numeral 1 designates a bed, 2 a gage, 3 and 4 upper and lower cutting and trimming knives respectively, and 5 a spring for the knife 3.

The bed 1 is provided in its upper face with a longitudinal groove 6, in which the cigar to be trimmed is placed. This groove extends the entire length of the bed, and its bottom wall for a portion of its length is provided with a longitudinal slot 7 extending entirely through the bed. The upper face of the bed 1 in general is convex and the under face, at least throughout the length of the slot 7, is recessed as seen in Fig. 3. The bottom wall portions 8 adjacent the slot 7 are at right angles to the walls of the slot and are in the same plane with each other to present flat bearing portions, and each of these portions terminates at its outer side with a downwardly projecting longitudinal flange 9. On opposite sides of the groove 6 are longitudinal beads or ribs 10.

The gage 2 comprises a plate 11 convex on its upper face and concave on its lower face, its inner end being provided with a gage plate 15 which is substantially ovalshaped with its lower edge corresponding with the contour of and bearing upon the upper facc'of the groove 6. The plate 11 is provided along one side with a flat bearing flange 16 which is disposed in a horizontal plane and extends considerably beyond the gage plate 15 where it terminates in an arc-shaped arm 17 which extends parallel with the gage plate 15 some distance therefrom. This flange 16 rests throughout on one of the beads or ribs 10 and the said arm 17 extends from the flange 16 to a point overlying the other of said beads or ribs 10. The free end portion of the arm 17 is spaced sufficiently from the last mentioned bead or rib 10 to permit of a cigar being placed therebeneath into the groove 6. The lower face of the arm 17 will be observed to be concaved to conform to the contour of a portion of a cigar.

An adjusting wing-screw 18 is provided, the same having a collar to engage the upper face of the plate 11, and the threaded stem 19 of the screw passes through an opening in the plate 11 and through the slot 7. On its lower end, the said stem 19 receives a nut 20, the latter being prevented from turning by the engagement of the said flanges 9 with the sides thereof. This engagement of the flanges 9 with the sides of the nut is maintained in all positions which the adjusting screw and gage may assume in the length of the slot 7. By this arrangement, the gage 2 may be adjusted along the groove 6 to regulate the length of the cigars to be trimmed by the cutters 3 and 1, there being a scale 22 consisting of characters cast or otherwise provided on the base for that purpose.

To one end of the bed 1 is secured the lower trimming knife 4, having a recessed cutting edge 24 at its upper edge and a lateral extension 25 to which the upper trimming knife 3 is pivoted. The upper knife is provided in its lower portion or edge with a recessed cutting edge 27 which cooperates with the cutting edge 24 of the lower knife. The upper knife is normally held in its inoperative position by a spring 5 connected thereto at 30 and to the base at 31 by means such as a screw. A flange 33 serves as a handle whereby the upper knife may be operated. The lower knife 4 is provided in its lower edge with spaced vertical slots 40 through which extend screws 41 threaded into the bed 1, and permitting vertical adjustment of the knives relatively to the bed. The upper knife on the opposite side of its pivot from the cutting edge 2". is equipped with a heel portion 45 which engages one of the said set screws 41 to act as a stop against the. action of the spring 5.

When a cigar is to be trimmed to. a predetermined length, the gage 2 is adjusted with respect to the scale 22 and the cigar inserted beneath the arm 17 to proper position within the groove 6, with the tip of the cigar against the gage plate 15. If the end of the cigar to be trimmed is of the same diameter throughout, the knife 4 is adjusted so that the bottom of its cutting edge 24 is flush with the bottom of the groove 6, but if the cigar tapers toward a point at the end to be trimmed, the knife is raised above the bottom of the groove 6 until the bottom of the cutting edge 24 of the knife 4 engages the side of the cigar. Thus, by raising and lowering the trimming cutters according to the taper of the end of the cigar, the cut will always be at right angles to the axis of the cigar and not on a bevel as would be the case in some instances were not this adjustment afforded.

Having fully described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, a cigar holder having a grooved cigar supporting face, a cutter at one end of the groove, a gage plate adjustable in the opposite end of the groove, and a holdingdown arm for the cigars arranged on the cutter side of the gage plate and carried by and spaced from the gage plate and ex tending across the groove and having its free end spaced from the holder to permit insertion of cigars into the groove.

2. In a device of the character described, a cigar holder having a grooved cigar supporting face, a cutter at one end of the holder, a gage plate adjustably slidable in said groove, means passing through the slot for securing the gage plate where adjusted, an extension from the gage plate toward the cutter, a cigar holding-down arm extending from said extension across said groove, one end of the arm being sufficiently spaced from the face of the groove and the holder to permit insertion of a cigar between the same and the holder.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS E. FEARON.

Witnesses MARGARET CRAIG, G110. E. Po'rrs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

